Means for controlling continuous rolling mills



Aug. 28, 1923. 1,466,642

, A. cRooK MEANS FOR CONTROLLING CONTINUOUS ROLLING MILLS Filed Nov. 25; 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY a Aug. 28, 1923.

A. CROOK mums FOR CONTROLLING CONTINUOUS ROLLING MILLS 2 Sheet s-Shet 2 Filed Nov. 25 1919 INVENTOR. (900/:

' ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 28, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED CROOK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO TAYLOR- WHARTON IRON AND STEEL COMPANY, OF HIGH BRIDGE, NEW JERSEY, A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING CONTINUOUS ROLLING MILLS.

Application filed November 25, 1919. Serial No. 340,512.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ALFRED (lawn, a c tizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia andv State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Means for Controlling Continuous Rolling Mills, of

mills are driven by independent fluid gears,

each served by a variable-speed delivery pump, with allpumps operated by a common prime mover, the speed variation of the drive is obtained through controlling the rate of pressure fluid from each pump, a

single lever ordinarily serving for the control of each unit. It is important that the drive be controlled, not only as an entirety, but that the speed ratio of each independent unit be separtely controlled.

The present invention, therefore, is .particularly directed to a control through which the speed ratio of each inde endent unit may be controlled, or the spee ratio of all units simultaneously and similarly governed, while maintaining the independent relative ratios of the res ective units. This permits the o oration 0 each unit at desired speed, in or er that such unit may perform the desired work, while at the same time afli'ording a simultaneous and relative proportio al control for all units, necessary, for examp e,

in load changes.

Iii the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan, illustrating the application of the improvement to a rolling mill drive.

partly broken Fig. 2 is an end elevation out of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the speed adjuster.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. '5 is an elevation of the adjuster set for the minimum or zero speed.

Flg. 6'is a view in elevation, showing a modified adaptation of the speed adjuster.

The invention is here shown as applied to a continuous rolling mill, and while particularly effective in such application, is equally applicable to other drives, as will be apparent.

In the illustration iven, rolling stands 1, are driven by variab e speed hydraulic motors 2, through the pinion pair 3, by means of the crank 4. The top roll 5 is adjustable by the usual screw-down 6, and the center difierences of the rolls and pinions are taken care of by wobblers 7.

The motors 2 are each served by a variable speed delivery pump, and all pumps are operated at constant and uniform speed by a prime mover 8. Each pump is provided with a delivery-change control lever 9, and through the operation of these levers the rate of flow of pressure fluid from the particular pump to the motor is controlled, to thereby govern the speed of the motor and of the load machine.

It is important that the speed variation of each unit be capable of separate control, in order that the particular mill or other'load machine may carry out its prescribed work, and it is also of prime importance that means be provided for simultaneously and similarly controlling the speed variation of all units, as in load chan es. The present invention, through the ad uster now to be described, provides a means for independently controlling each unit, while at the same time permitting the simultaneous control of all units.

The adjuster, which is shown more particularly in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, comprises a rectangular frame 10, pivotally supported at one end on brackets 11, fixed to an appropriate partof the system, as adjacent the prime mover. Threaded rods 12 are mounted in the frame for rotative movement, while held against inde endent lon itudinal movement. The rods liave crank andle ends 13,

- beyond the frame, whereby any rod or rods l1eads 16. The cross-heads 16 form the fixed terminals of rods 17, leading to the respective levers 9,. so that each lever 9 has an independent sliding connection with a member which is adjustable longitudinally of the adjuster frame.

It is apparent that through the operation of the appropriate screw rod 12, through its crank handle13, the nut and block on such rod will be moved lengthwise such operated rod. If the adjuster frame isin any but a position in alignment with the cross heads, such movement of the blocks will cause a movement of the particular cross head, and through the rod 17, of the particular control lever 9. Therefore, any one or more of the control levers 9 may be adjusted to control the speed ratio of the particular units as desired. The unit controls are, however, all mounted in one frame, and this frame is itself movable or of adjustable position, as through its pivotal connection with the brackets. Therefore, all units may be simultaneously controlled through movement of the adjuster frame. This simultaneous control is proportional, in that it does not vary the relative independent unit speeds, though these are capable of independent control in any operative position of the adjuster frame.

The parts are so preferably arranged that when the adjuster frame is vertical on its pivotal supports, the cross heads will be in alinement with the frame and with each other. This is the position of zero delivery of the pumps, and of course operation of the rods 12 will not affect the cross heads or levers 9, as the blocks 15 simply move freely lengthwise the cross heads.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a slight modification of the drive control, wherein an adjuster frame 18, is pivotally supported adjacent each control lever 9, and such frames 18, each carry a single adjusting rod 19, having its block 20 operating in the cross head 21, connected to the adjacent control lever 9-, by a rod 22. In this form, the independent adjustment of the speeds of the units is obviously provided for, and the simultaneous ad ustment is insured through the connection of all adjuster frames 18 by an operatmg rod 23. The possibilities of the control as. thus arranged are fully equal to those of the preferred form. I L

z for any reason the resistance of the load machine of any unit should increase beyond the predetermined maximum operating torque, a safety=valve 24 is provided for the motor of each unit, such valve serving to by-pass the motive fluid, and thereby avoid damage to the operating elements of the unit.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new, is

1. Means for controlling continuous rolling mills, comprising variable speed transmission units for each stand of rolls, a prime mover, and a system of control whereby the speed ratio of each unit may be independently adjusted and the adjusted speeds may be simultaneously governed Without the relative speed ratios.

alterilplg 2. eans for 'controlling continuous rolling mills, comprising a variable speed hydraulic transmission unit for each stand of rolls, a prime mover, means for regulating the speed of each unit at will, and means for simultaneously effecting proportional,

speed changes in all the units.

3. Means for controlling continuous rolling mills, comprising a variable speed hydrauli transmission unit for each stand of rolls, means for selectively controlling said units, and means for simultaneously controlling them without disturbing the individual adjustments.

4. Means for controlling continuous rolling mills, comprising the combination with stands of rolls, of hydraulic transmission units, including a pump and a motor for each stand of rolls, a prime mover for operating the pumps, means for selectively governing the respective units, and means for operating the selective means for all the units as an entity Without interfering with the relative adjustments of the same.

5. A control for a multiple unit continuous drive, comprising a unit control, and a frame in which said controls are adjustably mounted, said frame belng movable to simultaneously operate all unit controls.

6. A control for multiple unit continuous drive, comprising a pivoted frame, and a control means for each unit independently and adjustably mounted in the frame.

- 7. A control for a multiple unit continuous drive, comprising a pivoted frame, an adjusting rod for the control of each unit mounted in the frame, and means for operating the rods independently.

8. A control for a -multiple unit continuous drive, comprising a control lever for each unit, a pivoted frame, and independent means for operating each lever, said means being mounted in and movable with the frame.

9. A control for a multiple unit continuous drive, comprising a control lever for each unit, a pivoted frame, a threaded rod rod, whereby through operation of any rod movement, a threaded rod for each control 10 the unit control lever is corresponding oplever mounted in the rod for rotative moveerated and through movement of the rame ment, a nut having threaded connection with all control levers are simultaneously opthe rod, a block connected with the nut, and

5 erated. anopen elongated cross head for each con- 10. A control fora continuous rolling mill trol lever in which the block of the oorre- 15 drive involving a series of units including sponding threaded rod is slidably mounted. a, pump and a motor, of a control lever for In testimony whereof I atfix my signature. each pump, a frame pivoted for swinging ALFRED CROOK. 

